Marine engine.



PATBNTED 00T. 16, was.

H. A. DUC, JR. MARINE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED nEo.21 1995.

Allomeys infin UNITED sTArEs PATENT: OEETOE.

l' nENEr A. nuo, 3R., or OHAELESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.'

MAmNE l Specification, of Letters Patent.

ENGlNE.

p Patented Got. 16, 1906.

Application filed Decemberv 21, 1905. Serial No. 292,878.' l

To rif/ZZ whom, it 'nt/ty concern: if

Be it known that I, HENRY A. BUC, dr., of Charleston, in the county of Charleston and State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Marine Engines; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description a partial vacuum around ythe shaft-journals,

so that the necessity of tight-stuiling-boxes around the'shaftis obviated, with resultant lessening- 'of'lfriction upon the shaft, and the propeller may alsobe utilized .to reduce the skingfriction on'the operativeparts of the engine by partially exhausting the chambers in which the moving partsl operate. :The propeller may also be utilized to produce a circulation of Water or other fluid medium around the'shaft and bearings.

TheA invention embodiesa novel construction of the reaction,turbine-engine by which the propeller can be rapidly driven in either direction and reversed at will.

. It also embodies a .novel construction of propeller whereby the blades of the propeller are utilized as aneans i`or.creatirv` a suction in the shaft-tunnel and in the 1 le or nonworking chambers and passages surrounding 4 the rotative part-s of ythe engine and shaft.

"The several features of the invention -ior -.which protection is desired are set forth in the' claims., and I will now describe the inven'- "tion inv detailin connection with the'partic-- ular embodiment thereoi1 illustrated in theI drawings, which will suiiice to impart a' clear understanding thereof; butit shouldbe unfderstood that the invention is not` restricted to the particular form of apparatusfdisclsed' in the drawings.

In the drawings, Figure i is a'longitudin'al.

. lsectionelevation of a reaction turbinefen- `argine,

the `shaft `tunnel or -casing,' and P1 0" peller-shaft and a side elevation of the propeller operated by said engi-ne.lv lFig. 2 is an end elevation of Fig. 1..

Fig. 3 is an enlar ed sectional .view of onefof thejpropeller-bla es.

Fig. -4 is an enlarged detail section of part oithe propellerehub and the adjacentparts of the ropellershaft housing. Figs. vand 6 are `etail views.

The engine illustrated in the drawin s ,comprises an annular expansion-chamber which is formed Within a suitable casing and has an annular opening a3 aroundk its -inner periphery', within vor close to which opening is fitted the periphery of the reaction-wheel having two oppositely-arranged series of curved jet -passages w w which arey formed on opposite sides o f the wheel, but have no communication with each other, and their outlets into the chamber A are separated by the rojecting periphery 'of the central diskD.

T e jet-passages communicate with inletchambers at the axis of the wheel, whichinriet-chambers communicate with axially-disnos'ed iet-passages J and J', formed in annu ar castings J4 and J5, attached to the casino` oi' the engine,`which castings are provided with .receiving-chambers c c4 at opposite sides of the wheel, which respectively com municate with steam or elastic-duid suppl pipes T and T which may be connected wit i any suitable source of elastic-duid supply. The reaction-wheel W and its inner parts, so far as each face of the wheel is concerned, is constructed substantially like the wheel shown and described in my application lor Letters Patent, tiled N'Ovemebr 23, 1905, SerialV No. 288,750; but in this case the jetobvious that steam can be admitted 'only to oneside oi this wheel at4 a time', ,and when fadr-nittedto one side ofy the 'wheel it will rotate the wheel by' reaction in the direction op osite to that inwhich .it will be rotated rigen steam lsadmtted in the other side of the wheel. `Thus to drive the wheel rand pro'- peller, say

to reverse the wheel and drive it to the left steam might be admitted'to the pipe T'. Suitablevalve mechanism may be employed, (not showin) whereby one valve must be closed before the other can be opened'.

The wheel is axially supported upon the `main shaft C, which shaft is extended so as to form the propellerfshaft, the propelierli being mounted upon-the outer endet the shaft. The shaft is supported ateach side ofthe 'one to the right, steam might be ad-v mitted through the pipe T, or it it is desired W, which in this instance is a double wheel passages on the opposite; sides 'of the Wheel? W being inclined in opposite directions it is gine in bearings F F and adjacent to the.' propeller in bearing FV It may beprovided Witlrsuitable collars f to prevent theflongitudinal movement-o the shaft in its bearings.u Lubricant can be supplied to the bearings ofthe shaft-.from any suitable lubricant` supply through pipes Z l Z2., The oil admitted to bearings F would naturally be forced back by the pressure or leakage of steam to the poclret h at the end of bearing F',:t`0. which access can beheld-through an opening closed bya removable screw-cap a, and any oil'exud? ing from? said bearing. can 4be removed' through pipe o to any suitable, receiver. (Not shown.) Similarly, theoil admitted to bearingF mayescape mtb a housingr l\/.[,.in closing that 'portion of the shaftC between 'thebearing F and'FZ, and the oil exuded from bearing F will be trappedin said hoi1singby means. of an annular iiange r thereirr and can be removed through a drip-pipe o.

The housing M7 may be ofany 'suitablev construction and is to be air andsteam tight. As shown, water can be circulated through this housing, if desired, by being admitted at the, inlet g and removed at the outlet N thro-ugh s uitablyfvalved pipes, (not shown,) -this means of circulatingwater being well known. Preferably,l however, all the fluid may beexhausted `from said chamber and discharged through the propeller-bl ades, as hereinalter described. l i

T` e steam passing`v from thechamber c (or c4) into the reaction-wheel through the passages c and l (orvcfand J) passes-over the annular 'aperture and d in the inlet-passages, which' apertures d connect with the dead-spaces G,b etween the sides ofthe reaction-wheel 'and the side of the inclosing casing, and the steam flowing into the conter of wheel W thus tends toproduce and maintain a vacuum in said chamber, substantially as described in my -aforesaid application. The steam ilowingover` the passages c2 likewise tends to create a vacuum in the cham? ber c3 exterior to the, mainsteam-inlet passage, and these chambers c3 or c7 (at thel opposite side of the engine) can be connected by a pipe q (or g) to the adjacent deadspace G (G) of the 'wheel-chamber, so th-at the suction created in the chamber c3 may be utilized to produce partial vacuum in the chambers G G.. Valves V V are interposed Abetween-the chambers C3 and pipes q g', re-i spectively, so that if the chamber is not iny use as a suction-chamber it can be cut off, so the .communication between the chambers .cj c7 and spaces G G can be cut oii" at will. In some instances l propose to utilize the chambers c3 c7 to supplyadditionalsteam to the engine. For-this purpose the chambers c3 c7 at opposite sides of the engine may be connected by pipes K Kto the steam-supply, and whenever-it is desired to augment f o Ithe power of the engine the valve Vor Vl seater shold be closed and the Valve Kor K opened, according to which direction the enc dinary use; but in this instance each proy peller-blade'` is provided with a passage p, which opens out through the end of the blade, which i'snprovided with recess p', in which is a valve p2, which isso pivoted that as the propeller-blade rotates the water will cause the long arm of said valve to turn over in the direction opposite to that in which the blade is moving. The space between the inner edge of this valve p2 and the bottom oi pocket p forms a continuation of passage p which will incline or lead in a direction opposite to that of the rotation of the blade, so that the movement of the blade through the water creates a suction in the passage p. The passage p4 communicates by a lateral passage pif in the hub of the blade with a chamber v at the end of the bearingF2.

The iree fitting ring w is interposed ben tween the hub of the propeller' and the end of the housing of the bearing F2, so as to diminish' the leakageof water between the hub and the end of the housing. As the propeller rotates, therefore, it will be obvious that the suction of the propeller-blades through the water will create a parti-alI vacuum in the chamber fu, and this chamber''ommunicates with the hollow housing M by means of passages e in the vjournal-bcaring F2, and consequently ii the openings g n are closed in said. housing a partial vacuum will be created therein, and ii opening n be closed but water los admitted in said housing the water will be y' drawn from the housingthrough the openings c in the journals F2 and thence through chamber u an'd passages "p in the propeller* blades and discharged therefrom.

The reactioiywheels can be driven at such speed that the passages in the propellerblades (which open, automatically in the di rection opposite their rotation) will move through thewater at such high yelocity that a powerful suction will bel created. through the passage 'p and the housing, and this suction by reason 'of the peculiar construction'of the propeller-blades andthe automatic action of the valves pzfwill be more than suiicient to resist the pressure of the water at the depth at which the bladesare immersed inthe water, and this suction not only produces a partial vacuum in the housing, but will removeall steam and other leakage from the housing and discharge it through the blades offthe propeller.

- lin-:practice I propose toA connect the housling M .by suital: ly-valved piping with the .spaces G G and other parts of the engine IIO ' friction instead of or as auxij fdfdt 'and c2 C8.' .When theengine is stopped,-

vwater would naturally tend to pass back through the passages in the propellenblades ter .flows into said. chamber this valve will be y ing c?, (or

vber cf (or c7) and its. coinniunicatnig pas`- The reaction of the jets impartis rotary nioshaft @and propeller P, 35

'i 'direction Whichever Vway the blades revolve,

pipes Z Z Pand is prevented from wasting by V`from' said*chamber into the housing M, l. place an annular valvedisl i loosely on the or running-joint dv or di, (lows into the reactionavheel W and issues at its peripheral v ]et-openings into the chamber Ajand passes induction of the efllnx ofthe oui'nals andthe y"-circulating water from the shaft-casing M. "flhefsniall'steain leakage in this machine .is I'used lto drive away the lubricant after it tunnel prevents tooniuch leakage when any in the shaft-tunnel M may be connected with seater wherein the moving part'sare subjected to l 'skin friction, 'so that tl rdpe'ller can be utilized as a ineansfo Qing this l.skin

liary to the jets into' the chainber o, and to prevent its 'p assing 'shaftv C `within the chamber c, so that it wa- I'noved back against the end of ie journal- :Operation: rSteam or elastic 'fluid is ad- .chamshaft C, -acquiring a high velocity` from its initial pressureaand,expansive force -coinbined, an d fishes over the annular let-openu c ,l produring induction in chain partial vacuum in the wheelspace's" rand G when connected tluirewith and' continuing passes over the iet-passages onto the condenser .through the 'outlets A".

ltion to' the wheel in the direction opposite to the flow of -s-tcaln therefrom and revolves hose autoinaticallycontrolled passages p open in the opposite sol that'tlie outer ends of said. passages will be'drawn tl'irough vthe water .at a higher velocity than that at'which Water will vflow vtlicreinto at the depth of their immersion., land thus produces a continuous suction and enters the first thrust-collars f f 'of the journals 'F and -F and discharge it into the annular chambers h h', which are drained in any suitable manner ythroughoutlets v0 O and may be returned to the iournals through the oilcatching annular flange r andthe collar 1" on the shaft The ring w at'the running-joint between the hub of` the propellerfl. and the vend of the projecting shaftendwise movement of the shaft occurs, as it doesy when reversing the motion. The valves V V areused to open or close the passages connecting the wheel-easing with the jet-lange JWhendesired and the valve K K to aoniit more steam ywhenrequir l, and the Ts gj q and the flanged opening n suitable valves (not shown in the drei-rings) yhave their outward en s tat-,tened and.l ro

' l l. In combination, a turbinai its housing, a propeller on sai -in the liousin g when. the propeller is vrotated in any convenient manner to Withdraw Inatter from the wheel-'chambers G G by the. action of the propeller l). Y

The passage/sin the ro eller-blades may 'lo videdl with hinged covers to open and c Ose automatically instead of thickening out the blades or may. l`.ive apertures lopeningy through the blades and curved in one direction on one side ofthe blades and curved in 75. the opiosite direction on the other side, V S0 that t c same effect will be secured-when revolving in either direction, and many other methods', such as channelsy provided with water-guiding `surfaces or internal small independent valves, may be employed` to allow the escape from one set o passages lwhile rotating in one direction.,` and' tie other passages may in a like' manner allow the eiilux when revolving in the opposite direc-vv tion and. still be within the explanation herein shown.- I

The valuable 'features of this invention are not confined to reaction-turbines, as the cass ing may be elongated to adniit of a drum or. wheels having radial varies moving between fixed steam-reversing blades and utilize the; induction of the steam for exhausting andalso usc a little .of its entering pressure for driving awayfand preventing all lubricants from mingling withA that which is to be condenscd and returned to the boilers. A

Having thus described myinvention W l'. claim as new, and desire to securei ters Patent, is

propellewsliaft actuated thereby, la 'ch bered housing for thesliaft, a pro ellei' "oni said shaft adapted to produce artia vacuum or suction in the housing, an means whereby said turbine can be driven forward or backward.

2. in combination, thel propeller-shaft, its housing, and a propellerz-providedfwith passages connecting with the housing, ii/h'ere-- by artial vacuum or suctien'fis createdin the rousing when the propeller is rotated.

The combination of pro el-ler-shaft, shaft pro.- vidcd wit 4passages connecting with` the housing, whereby a partial vacuum is create with a turbine connected with the propeller-f, shaft, sulistantially as described.

e. .in combination, the propeller-shaft, its housing, and a propeller provided with pas# sages connecting with the housing, whereby partial vacuum or suction is created inl the? housing when the propeller is rotated; with a turbine-engine connected .with propeller# shaft 'having oppositelyfcontrolled jet-pas sages, whereby it may be driven in either direction.

5. The combination of a propeller-shaft, a, propeller thereon 'having blades provided 13o with passages and adapted to create a suction when the propeller is rotated; with a turbine-engine connected with said shaft; and connections between the engine-casing and the propeller-passages whereby the pro'- pelle'r is caused to remove skin friction in the engine. y Y

6. The combination ofa propeller-shaft, a 'propelier thereon having blades provided with passages adapted to create-a suction when the propeller is rotated; with a turbineengine having opposite series of jet.passages lwhereby it is adapted to be driven in either direction, and connections between the propeller-,shaft casing and the propeller-passages whereby the propeller is caused to partially exhaust the casing.

' 7'. The herein-described reaction turbineengine, comprising a casing having a closed expansion-chamber, and a reaction-wheel inclosed in said chamber providedwit-h oprositely-disposed jet-passages, and means or admitting expensive fluid to either set of said passages whereby the wheel .may be diiven'in either direction.

8. The herein-described reaction turbineengine, comprising a casing having a closed Yannular expansion chamber, a reactionwheel inclosed insaid chamber having its 'periphery fitted to the mouth of said charnber-and provided on opposite sides with op- 'oppositely-disposed jet-passages, and means foriadmitting expansive fluid to either set of said passages whereby it may be driven in either direction.

9. AThe --combination of a propeller-housing, a propeller provided with passages in its blades communicating with said housing, and automatic devices whereby the passages are `caused to openfin a direction contrary to the movement of the blades.

'10. The combination of a turbine-engine,

p a propeller-shaft driven thereby, a housinor c so! for said shaft, a propeller mounted on sai shaft provided with passages in its blades communicating with-said housing, and automatic devices whereby passages are caused to open in the direction contrary to the movement of the blades.

11.` The herein-described reaction turbineengine, comprising a casing having an expansion-chamber, and a reaction-wheel provided with oppositely-disposed jet-passages,

' and means for admitting expansive fluid to either set of said passages whereby the wheel may be driven in either direction; in combination with a propeller-shaft driven by said f engine, a housing for said shaft, a propellery attached to said shaft having passages in its blades, and a chamber comig-,unicating with y the said passages and with the housing, whereby the rotation of the propeller produces a. vacuum in said chamber and housing.

12. The herein-described reaction turbineengine, comprising a casing having an annular expansion-chamber, a reaction-wheel havin its periphery vfitted to the mouth of said chamber and provided on opposite sides with oppositelhy-disposed jet-passages, and

means for admitting expansive-fluid to either side of said wheel whereby it may be driven Vin either direction; in combination with a propeller-shaft driven by said engine, a

housing for said shaft, a propeller attached to said shaft having passages in its blades, a

chamber communicating with the said pas? sages and with the housing, whereby the rotation of the propeller produces vacuum in said chamber and housing.

13. The hereindescribed marine engine, comprising'a rotatable shaft, a propeller, a casing surrounding part of said shaft provided with an annular expansion-chamber,

a reaction-wheel mounted on said shaft within said casing and communicating with said expansich-chamber, and means for admitting expansive fluid to said wheel, a housing inclosing said propeller-shaft, a propeller on the exterior end of said 'shaft having pas-" sages in its blades and hub, devices whereby the vpassages are caused to open automatically in a direction contrary to the rotation of the blade, and a communication between said passages and said housin for the purpose and substantially as descri ed. 'l

14..'l`he herein-described marine engine, comprising a-rotatable shaft, a propeller, a casing surrounding part of said shaft provided with an annular expansion-chamber,

a double reaction-wheel mountedv on said shaft within said casing and communicatin with said expansion-chamber, said whee having oppositely-disposed series of jet-pas-v loo my own l affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. I

HENRY A. DUC, JR. in presence of;- I

ARTHUR E. DowELL. L. E. lViiriiaiir. 

